Harrods worker suspended over free lunch ‘theft’

 
Security checks: Anthea Harding has been suspended by Harrods (Picture: Nigel Howard)
Nigel Howard

A kitchen supervisor who works at Harrods has been accused of theft and suspended after trying to take her half-eaten lunch home from the canteen.

Anthea Harding, 41, has worked as a team leader in a branch of Subway at the Knightsbridge store’s staff restaurant for the past 14 months.

For lunch on February 3, she chose chicken and mushroom pie filling, mashed potatoes and baked beans as part of her staff allowance.

The mother of one worked through her break and grabbed a few mouthfuls. She left the rest — which she said was worth no more than £1 — in its box.

She said: “At the end of my shift I wrapped it in my apron and went home. I got to the ground floor and there were plain-clothes security doing checks.

"They said I wasn’t allowed to take food out — it’s considered theft and I would be contacted by the manager.”

Ms Harding, who lives in Bloomsbury, was suspended after a meeting with bosses. She is waiting for a hearing with her employer, Eurest, to learn whether she will lose her £7.50-an-hour job.

“They took all my cards away, my Harrods card, my ID store card,” Ms Harding said.

“I am a workaholic and have sat at home for a month. I can’t stand it, I don’t want to go and sign on — I just want to get back to work.”

She said she was unaware of a company policy that free lunches must be eaten on the premises.

A letter to her from Harrods said: “A member of security checked your bag and then asked to check your apron. It is alleged that you concealed a box of food from the staff restaurant in your apron, you did not declare this item and did not pay for it.”

Eurest said: “A formal disciplinary process is now under way.”

A Harrods spokeswoman said: “While Ms. Harding has worked within the Knightsbridge store, she is employed by our contractor, Eurest, which operates Harrods’ staff restaurant.

“We referred this matter to Eurest for their investigation, and they are handling it in line with their procedures. As part of our company policy, Harrods notified Ms Harding that her store approval has been removed pending this investigation.

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